Police said protesters were told to surrender their tools before entering the designated demonstration area, but some later forced their way onto the construction site. (EPA Images pic)AMSTERDAM: Dutch police said they had arrested between 150 and 200 protesters for trespassing after hundreds entered the construction site of a Microsoft data centre in Amsterdam to protest against the project, reported the German Press Agency (dpa).

Police said items suspected of having been stolen from the site were found on some of those detained, while others were suspected of causing property damage.

Protesters from two groups had gathered at the site, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported.

Climate and civic campaign group Fossielvrij NL had planned to demonstrate outside the site over the vast amounts of energy consumed by data centres.